The 5 Worst Tackles

Sunday 19 May 2002Observer Sport Monthly

1. Germany v France, 1982

Harald Schumacher on Patrick Battiston:

Battiston had only been on the pitch five minutes when goalkeeper Schumacher, making no attempt to play the ball, smashed him in the face with his forearm, knocking him unconscious. The referee's reaction: goal kick. A French newspaper poll asked who was the least popular man in France. Schumacher beat Hitler into second.

2. Italy v Chile, 1962

Mario David on Leonel Sanchez

'Good evening. The game you're about to see is the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football possibly in the history of the game,' David Coleman told BBC viewers. The tackle that justified this build-up was David's karate-kick to Sanchez's neck. He was sent off.

3. Brazil v USA, 1994

Leonardo on Tab Ramos

The elbow that earned Leonardo a red card is best remembered for Kevin Keegan's embarrassingly slow refusal to admit it was the Brazilian's fault. Witness his commentary with ITV's Alan Parry:

Keegan: 'I didn't think he had done that much wrong. He was being held...he was being fouled first. I mean it's...' Parry: 'An elbow.'

Keegan: 'Yeah, but he's being held.' And so on and so forth...

4. Cameroon v Argentina, 1990

Benjamin Massing on Claudio Caniggia

The manhunt that welcomed Claudio Caniggia in Italia '90's opening match began as he was knocked off balance by one opponent, chopped at by another, then, barely on his feet, met by Massing's full body-check. A red card followed.

5. Scotland v Uruguay, 1986

Jose Batista on Gordon Strachan

For the purity of it. Scotland needed a win, Uruguay a draw. 56 seconds in, Batista carved right through the back of Strachan. The fastest red card in World Cup history. Uruguay fouled their way to the required 0-0.